What is Leukemia? What are its 4 Types?

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What is Leukemia? What are its 4 Types?

 

Leukemia is the medical condition. In which the white blood cells start forming in too much quantity and it builds in the bone marrow and makes a tissue like structure in the bone center. It usually overtakes the other blood cells and become cancer. Usually it has 4 types that are following and these types of Leukemia are divided into categories based on the growth of their cell spread.

Here are the following 4 types of Leukemia:

  • First - Chronic lymphocytic leukemia

  • Second - Acute myeloid leukemia

  • Third - Acute lymphocytic leukemia

  • Fourth - Chronic myeloid leukemia


 

1. Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)


There are 4 types of the leukemia and one of the type is CLL. The difference all these types create is with the growth it produces.

 

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Causes


The CLL - Chronic lymphocytic Leukemia typically grows slowly and begins in lymphocytes in the bone marrow and spreads towards the blood veins.  It spreads towards the lymph nodes and organs such as liver and spleen. CLL develops when too many abnormal lymphocytes grow, crowding out normal blood cells and making it difficult for the body to fight infection.

Somehow, CLL - chronic lymphocytic leukemia is about 25 percent of all cases leukemia and it has around 1 person out of every 175 people has it according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). Hence, CLL is somehow just like ALL, But the difference lies in the severity as it’s way more chronic instead of acute. That means it is however, more slow-growing and requires around longer period of time to start causing symptoms.

 

How To Identify The Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Symptoms?


The symptoms may include the following.

  • Swelling in the lymph nodes that can be with in any of these - neck, underarm, stomach or groin

  • Exhaustion and body pain

  • High Fever

  • Infection

  • Weight loss and more!


 

Here we have few Leukemia Treatment options for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia that includes:



  • Radiation Therapy

  • Chemotherapy

  • Immunotherapy and 

  • Targeted Therapy


 

2. Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML)


Second type of leukemia is CML - That is Chronic Myeloid Leukemia and in medical science it is also known as chronic myelogenous leukemia too.

 

Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Causes


However, this type of leukemia starts developing in the blood forming cells inside the bone marrow. And somehow then on, it spreads into the blood with the passage of time. CML - is a slow growing leukemia and it has it own identification when it comes to symptoms and signs.

 

How To Identify The Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Symptoms?


These are the symptoms that may include the following:

  • Fatigue

  • Fever

  • Extreme Weight loss 

  • A swollen spleen


It is came out according to a study that almost around half of CML cases are diagnosed by a blood test before symptoms show up. ACS medical research shows that 15 percent of leukemias are CML.

 

Here we have few Leukemia Treatment options for CML - Chronic Myeloid Leukemia that includes:



  • Targeted therapy

  • Chemotherapy

  • Immunotherapy

  • Stem cell transplant


 

3. Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL)


ALL - that is Acute lymphocytic leukemia spread too fast in comparison to CML and CLL.

 

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia Causes


It spread by changing all the healthy blood cells which actually helps in producing lymphocytes with leukemia cells that can't mature properly. 

The ALL - Acute lymphocytic leukemia cells are being flowed towards the bloodstream and it flows in blood to other body organs. However, this is how they spread throughout the body and divide.

 

How To Identify The Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia Symptoms?


The symptoms may resemble the most common infections like cold and influenza. Hence, here are the following..

  • Fatigue

  • Shortness of breath

  • Fever

  • Easy bruising or bleeding 

  • Among other symptoms.


Somehow when there is abnormal mutation start developing in DNA… the ALL process takes place. Moreover, Lymphocytes here have to fight infections, but the ones produced in people with ALL are unable to do so properly. 

 

Here we have few Leukemia Treatment options for ALL - Acute lymphocytic leukemia that includes:



  • Chemotherapy

  • Radiation therapy

  • Stem cell transplant

  • Targeted therapy


 

4. Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)


Acute myeloid Leukemia - AML has other terminologies for it too. However, That says acute myelogenous leukemia, acute myeloblastic leukemia, acute granulocytic leukemia or acute nonlymphocytic leukemia.

 

Acute Myeloid Leukemia Causes


However, This type of leukemia is categories because of it fast-growing pace. It spreads rapidly among all types leukemias. Moreover, This leukemia starts spreading in the blood and bone marrow.

Somehow, Just like ALL - AML causes the bone marrow to overproduce abnormal white blood cells, crowding healthy blood cells and affecting the body’s ability to fight infections.

 

Here we have few Leukemia Treatment options for AML - Acute myeloid leukemia leukemia that includes:



  • Chemotherapy

  • Therapy through Radiations

  • Stem cell transplant

  • Targeted therapy


 

Conclusion


Although, Leukemic disorder is a severe medical condition and it requires immediate medical attention. This condition must not be neglected if you feel or observe any kind of symptoms that is mentioned above. Somehow, You can take help from our doctors. For that, book an appointment with the doctor for an in-person meeting and get the proper check with testing too. Moreover, this can save much of your time plus the hassle for initial time. However, Be very careful if you feel any of the symptoms. 

Good luck!